CHEAP Laptop needed for business. Minimum Requirements only.

[crazyfound]

What should I look for? Price point and the speed of the machine are both important, but I don't want a slug nor a machine with the speed of an eagle either.

I just need access to e-mail and a couple webpages, so the basics is good. Must be able to have a good speed dial up modem as well, as I won't have access to high speed yet... 56k?

Thanx

[shopper_of_things]

Any entry level laptop should do for your needs in terms of CPU, memory, and HD.

How much lugging around are you going to do? If lots, look for something lighter than other laptops. You will be paying extra for "lightness".

Make sure it's got the built-in modem running at 56Kbps. There shouldn't be anything slower anyways.

Look in the Deals forum for good value under $1000. Looks like Dell 12 days of sales is coming up.

[Cyber6]

What should I look for? Price point and the speed of the machine are both important, but I don't want a slug nor a machine with the speed of an eagle either.

I just need access to e-mail and a couple webpages, so the basics is good. Must be able to have a good speed dial up modem as well, as I won't have access to high speed yet... 56k?

Thanx


E-mail and a couple of webpages... you'll do well with a refurb-thinkpad. PIII (700 - 900Mhz) with 256k ram (better make it 512k.. so you can multitask).. 20 gigs HDD and a CD-rom (maybe even a DVD rom) will cost you around 300 - 400 bucks.

Check the BST, or walk around Spadina/College area.


C.

[shopper_of_things]

If you shop around, you can find new entry level laptops for $500 to $600. So don't drop your money so quickly for that old PIII going for $400.

[Bunkhouse]

I too agree with a refurbished thinkpad:

http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=124&catalogId=-124&langId=124&categoryId=2576396

[crazyfound]

Oops, sorry guys, I should have been more clear. I can't spend more than $200.00 on a laptop and I was wondering what the minimum requirments would be to use the internet.

Is ram and cpu speed the same factor as a PC?

[Bunkhouse]

I think you'll have a very hard time getting a laptop for $200. Even for web surfing these days with animated picture/flash you'll need at least 700Mhz and 256mb ram (Windows 2000) IMO.

[Cyber6]

I think you'll have a very hard time getting a laptop for $200. Even for web surfing these days with animated picture/flash you'll need at least 700Mhz and 256mb ram (Windows 2000) IMO.


Agree with above bolded statement.

You can still web surf on a PII with 128 Mb ram (Win98)... and if you decide to go with a linux enviroment.. you could easily surf on 64 Mb of ram... but then, that'll be the only thing you'll be doing.


If you only have $200 to spend.. I will suggest that you either go for a desktop or just wait until you have save a little more. ;)


C.

[Rehan]

Oops, sorry guys, I should have been more clear. I can't spend more than $200.00 on a laptop and I was wondering what the minimum requirments would be to use the internet.

Is ram and cpu speed the same factor as a PC? There was a recent thread here (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260480) for a Thinkpad 600X P3-500 that sold for just over $200...you might be able to find something like that if you're patient. It would be more than enough for Internet use.

[re:load]

I have a Fujitsu FMV-Biblo NE2/43LR, it is a celeron 433mhz with 14" screen, cd-rw(rare in older lappys), 9GB HDD, loaded with XP Pro, dead battery but ac adapter included. It has a unique feature where, when sleeping, it acts as a standalone CD player. You pop a CD in and it has controls on the front, including an LED display, that you can use to control your music. Id let it go for $200. let me know if it's along the lines of what you need.

SPECS (http://www.nbinside.com/fujitsu/biblo-ne2_43lr.htm)